The Relationship Between Cervical Cancer and Divorce

You may not think that cancer and divorce have anything to do with one another. They are both challenging situations to face in their own right, but surprisingly, there is research that states your likelihood of getting divorced increases with a cancer diagnosis. In the case of cervical cancer, a study conducted by the European Cancer Conference (ECC) found that the chance of divorce increases by 40%. 

Why would cervical cancer cause such a rise in divorce rates?

There may be several factors at play, including:  

• Intimacy - cervical cancer for women has a major effect on intimacy. Not only are women faced with cancer undergoing treatments that cause incredible variations in their hormone and energy levels, but they are often faced with surgical procedures that make intercourse nearly impossible.
• Age - the group most affected by cervical cancer is young women. Because cervical cancer can affect fertility and the ability to have a family, the ECC study found that the rate of divorce among young women with cervical cancer is even higher, with a divorce rate of 69% at the age of 20. The numbers go down as women age and fertility decreases. At 60 years of age, the percentage of divorce is 19%. The divorce rates are also affected by other factors, such as length of marriage and level of intimacy.  

If you are faced with cervical cancer and divorce, it can be a very challenging period in your life. Take care of yourself and work with an experienced attorney who can guide you through the divorce process and advise you about topics specific to your situation, like health insurance, disability laws and child custody issues. Lean on your friends and family for support and accept help with errands, household chores and other things that might be challenging for you to deal with when you are faced with divorce and cancer.

Contacting a Virginia Beach Divorce Lawyer 

The decision to file for divorce usually comes at the end of a long and painful journey. In addition to the emotional turmoil involved, there's also a lot of fear and uncertainty about what the future holds. Concerns about children, mortgages and even just paying the bills or buying groceries can easily become overwhelming.

A Virginia Beach divorce lawyer at Hofheimer/Ferrebee can examine the specifics of your case to help you decide how much support to ask for, what child custody arrangement will work best for you and your children and how to fairly divide your marital assets. Request a FREE copy of our guide, What Every Virginia Woman Should Know About Divorce, or reserve your seat at our monthly divorce seminar - 757-425-5200.